The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
Mustafa Valika

Mustafa Valika, reporter

Mustafa Valika is a senior at York and a reporter for ThisIsYork. He has one semester of Intro to Journalism behind him and is also involved with YTV. In his free time, Mustafa enjoys discovering new movies and music. He’s excited to bring you relevant and important coverage of our community!

All content by Mustafa Valika
The Board of Education hires Dr. Keisha Campbell as new District 205 superintendent.

Meet our new superintendent

Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
July 2, 2021
A group of students in the Marching Band playing sousaphone line up to perform at a home football game. “Leading up to the first game, nothing really felt real-especially because of COVID-19 it's been hard to really look forward to something and expect it to happen,” senior Rose Menichini said. “When we came back, it all finally set in and it was so much fun to walk out on the field again and hear the pep band songs.”

Marching Band returns for a long awaited season

Phoebe Stergios and Mustafa Valika
April 30, 2021
On April 12, all in-person students returned to a full eight-period schedule for the rest of the year. Students eat at separate desks during lunch to maintain distancing. Chairs were spread throughout the lunchroom, Commons and Joe Newton Field House.

Students react to returning to eight-period schedule

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
April 21, 2021
The influx of students returning to in-person learning means that many will be in the school building for the first time in over a year. While students and their families can choose to stay home for remote learning, most chose to return for the four-day schedule.

York students react to 4 day in-person schedule

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
April 4, 2021
Photo of James Golen delivering his final round speech, recording himself to be viewed in a later ceremony. Golen received this ceremony after being crowned State Champion in both extemporaneous and impromptu speaking at the IHSA Speech State Series.

Dual State Champion James Golen reflects on his last Speech season at York

Mustafa Valika, Reporter
March 24, 2021
Starting April 12, students choosing to go back to school will be returning to the standard 7:40 a.m. -3:06 p.m. school day. Instead of having four classes a day, the school day will now consist of all eight classes. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

School Board votes to return to full in-person learning beginning April 12

Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
March 24, 2021
The House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, a bill entitled to remove discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

York’s LGBTQ+ community reacts to the Equality Act

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
March 15, 2021
Math teacher Leslie Stipe receives the coronavirus vaccine at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital through University of Illinois at Chicago.

Students and staff receive COVID-19 vaccinations

Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
February 18, 2021
School board votes on new in-person guidelines for Elmhurst CUSD 205 schools

School board votes on new in-person guidelines for Elmhurst CUSD 205 schools

Finnegan Belleau, Mustafa Valika, and Lucas Freitag
February 11, 2021
The inauguration took place on January 20th at the West Front of the Capitol Building.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
January 27, 2021
Students return to hybrid learning following winter break after last attending school in late October.

Students return to hybrid learning amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Lucas Freitag, and Finnegan Belleau
January 25, 2021
Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated incumbent Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in a runoff election this Wednesday.

Democrats gain control of Congress as Warnock, Ossoff win Georgia elections

Mustafa Valika and Lucas Freitag
January 14, 2021
Photo of the food pantry in Glenn Ellyn. Food pantries in DuPage county have been working hard to provide food for people in need during the 2020 holiday season.

As the holidays approach, local food pantries adapt and continue to serve communities during the pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
December 22, 2020

[Video] AP Art student Matthew Milani produces sculptures surrounding theme of “man and technology”

Mustafa Valika, Reporter
December 18, 2020
The Model UN delegates attend a conference held by St. Ignatius this past Saturday. They listened in as the chair described the proposed scenario over Zoom. Pictured at the top left is York’s very own Jonah Sweley, a junior executive committee officer of York’s Model UN club, representing South Africa.

York’s Model UN club persists over a remote setting

Mustafa Valika, Reporter
November 17, 2020
Earlier this week, the Associated Press called Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, putting him over the threshold required to beat Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win presidential race; Trump contests

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
November 9, 2020
Student casts vote in York's 2016 mock election. The 2020 mock election was conducted remotely.

Joe Biden and Illinois Democrats win York’s 2020 Mock Election

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
November 3, 2020
Vice-presidential nominees Kamala Harris (left), and Mike Pence (right) debated this Wednesday at Kingsbury Hall at University of Utah.

Kamala Harris vs. Mike Pence: the key takeaways from the 2020 vice presidential debate

Finnegan Belleau, Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, and Lucas Freitag
October 12, 2020
A mural of Breonna Taylor at a memorial in Minneapolis. “Say their names” became a rallying cry for activists, referencing the many victims of police brutality.

York Black community reacts to recent charges regarding officers involved with Breonna Taylor’s death

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
October 3, 2020
Renee Kuharchuk (top right) listens as her AP Art students actively share and discuss their art pieces over Zoom. “They’ve been totally jumping in, using Zoom, using the chat, really trying to make it an authentic experience," Kuharchuk said.

Visual and performing arts programs work to overcome challenges presented with remote learning

Mustafa Valika, Reporter
September 24, 2020

Students follow their passion in AP Art

Mustafa Valika, Contributing Reporter
December 17, 2019
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